The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-02-03
SOLDERING IN AFRICA.
A Frenchman's Remarkable Adventures
While q Captive Among the Arabs.

q
While Captive Among the Arabs.
A lot of emigrants stepped from the
cars at the Union depot recently.
Among them was Frenchman
named Victor Muller, with his wife
and. two children. He had remark
able story of adventure his life, and
as he rested in a hotel preparatory to
going out house-hunting he related it
to reporter as follows:
"When was young had great
love for the army, and at the
age of seventeen went to Stras-
bourg to become soldier. was put
into an infantry regiment, from which
was transferred in six weeks to the
Third regiment of zouaves. While
among them was sent to Algiers,
where I staid for about fifteen years,
fighting the Arabs or living the miser-
able life of French soldier in Tan
gier.''
"Why miserable?'
"Well, the country is awfully hot,
and anybody who is not used toit suf-
fers terribly"
'.Did you do any active servicep"
eyes, and plenty of it. The Arabs
on the northern coast of Africa are con-
stantly revolving against the supremacy
of the French, whom that country costs
many drop of blood in year. Many
a friend did lose while I was out
there. Once when we were on the
desert-we had been after a detach-
ment of Arab horsemen-we ost our
way, and we roamed for about week
through the vast sea of sand which
stretches itself through the northern
part of Africa-the Sahara. Our sup
ply of water had given out, and we
were almost dying of thirst. while our
knapsacks with provisions were almost
empty. To get some water and some
food we resorted at last to the measure
of killing one of the cameIs that we had
with us. The camel has stomach which
is divided into four parts, one of which
contains the water just as the animal
drinks it. We opened that part, and to
our great joy there was enough water to
give'u all at least cupful each. On
the sixth day our number had dwindled
down to seven, when cavalcade of
Arabian horsemen came upon us, and
we, being too weak to defend ourselves,
were made prisoners and taken to
Taghit, a town in Morocco.
"Here our Captain was killed in the
most horrible manner by the Arabs.
They tore his nails one by one from his
fingers, cut out his tongue, and
oboov,ad off hi, On 80 bofo,.o <har, fpo1lx,
killed him. myself was sold the next
day to a rich Moor, who made me his
valet. had here comparatively an easy
life, but they forced me there to join the
religion of Mohammed. Unfortunately
my master died, and he leaving no
heirs was taken back by the Govern
ment as their property. They, not
being able to dispose of me immediate
ly, sent me to Morocco, where was
put into dungeon among criminals of
the most degraded character. How
ever, appealed to the Sultan, through
the governor of the prison, and l was
released, prime ,ally because l had be-
come Mussu man,. ran through the
town, from one end to the other, when
at last I found occupation with He.
brew, who took me in as a water-car-
rier and general servant. As soon as
had saved some money, left Morocco
for Algiers. The dangers I encount-
cred on my long and wearisome jour-
ney were horrible-not so much from
the people or from beasts as from the
horrible climate. For five days trav-
eled through a dreary, barren desert.
1 was without food for two days. On
several occasions was misled by the
Fata Morgana. The Fata Morgana is
reflection of some distant place in the
rays of the sun, and is very deceiping
to travellers, especially on the desert.
/ had left Tlemeen, the town where
Abd-el-Kader vanished the French in
1885, the day previous. When I got
on the desert I had small flask of
water, which I had been obliged to
buy, as there was a drought in Tie
meen, making water SO scarce that it
sometimes came to twenty centimes
four cents) pint.
"When the water in my flask gave
out seemed to feel awfully thirsty; 1
became terribly detected, my head felt
dizzy and ached dreadfully. was
wishing for the next town with all my
heart. The sun shone down upon the
country with scorching heat. The sand
was so hot that it burned the soles of
my feet. With fainting heart lifted
up my head to see whether any trees or
houses appeared on the horizon. Look
ing up 1 was pleasantly surprised by
noticing in the distance beautiful vii
lage. The little onc-story white houses
were surrounded with large trees,
whose beautiful green foliage, in con-
trast to the white houses, made up
a nice picture. I hastened to reach
the spot as quickly as possible, but
imagine my disappointment when I
found that the glorious oasis was moth
ing but Q deception. The next day, al
most at the point of death, l came to a
small settlement, where recuperated
myself from my starving condition.
After a week 1 arrived in Tangier,
where was received with joyful hur-
rahs by my old comrades. In the
meantime news had arrived in Algiers
of the war between France and Ger
many. In few days ship took us
away from Africa. We landed in Mar
scilles, and were at once dispatched to
the front. I fought under Marshal
Bazine at Gravelotte, and was taken
prisoner by the Prussians, who sent me
to Erfurt, in Saxony. I was prisoner
there for six months, when was lib
Grated on account of peace, which had
been established between the countries.
Since that time 1 have been German
subject, as Alsace-Lorraine was an
nexed by that country. 1 am glad we
became Germans, because while I was
prisoner in their country they treated
me like a prince, better than I was
ever held as soldier in France. -
Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette.